Leg connector for table tops



March 10, 1953 A. J. REDLICH LEG CONNECTOR FOR TABLE TOPS Filed Sept. 8,1949 INVENTOR. ABRAHAM J. REDLICH.

ATTORNEYS.

a vertical support for the table.

Patented Mar. 10, 1953 LEG CONNECTOR FOR TABLE 'rors Abraham .l.Redlich, Pittsburgh, Pa.,' assignor to The Redlich ManufacturingCompany, Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania ApplicationSeptember 8, 1949, Serial No. 114,550

2 Claims. 1

This invention relates, as indicated, to a table leg connector, and,more particularly, to an improved connector assembly which willfacilitate and expedite the connection of a table leg to a table top,and which will, inaddition, provide an adjustment by which the effectivelength of the leg secured to the table top may be varied.

The table leg connector of this invention is primarily designed forsmall light tables such as end tables or dinette tables and the like.Tables of this type are commonly provided with a pair of parallel legmembers which are secured to the table top at points adjacent each otherto provide Such tablesare mass produced, and it is desirable that thecost of manufacture be kept as low as possible for competitive reasons.

A main item of cost in the manufacture of tables of the characterreferred to is the cost of making a connection between the light weightleg members and the table top. In end tables and the like, thisconnection has been commonly made by securing two wooden connectingmembers to the underside of the table top'with space therebetween forthe reception of the end of the table leg to beconnected to the tabletop. The connecting members providing the space for the reception of theend of the table leg in some cases may be the molding around the loweredge surface of the table. However, in all cases, the end of the tableleg is inserted in the space provided to a position with its endabutting against the undersurface of the table. Fastening members arethen inserted through the connecting members and the end of the tableleg to secure the table leg in position. In these structures, glue maybe employed in making the necessary connections between the variousparts. However, by reason of the number of parts required and the numberof connections to be made, considerable time is consumed in making theconnection, and the connection consequently is one of the most expensiveitems in the construction of the table.

One of the principal objects of this invention is to provide a table legconnector which will give an improved and adjustable connection betweena table leg and a table top and which will be effective to reduce thecost of manufacture of small tables of the character referred to. Tothese and related ends, this invention contemplates the provision of atable leg-connector constructedof sheet metal stampings as an assemblywhich may be secured to the underside of a table by ordinary woodscrews. The assembly is such that its connection to the table top may bemade by unskilled labor. The assembly includes metal plates havingcooperating grooves formed therein to provide-a space for the receptionof the end of a table leg. 'A clamp is provided for forcing the metalplates together-to clamp the end of a table leg in position between themetal plates and there by secure the table leg to the assemblywhich'opcrates in turn to secure the leg to the table top. Since theassembly of this invention fastens the table leg in position by aclamping action only, there is provided an adjustable connection betweenthe leg and the assembly by which the effective length of the table legmay be readily adwillbecome apparent from the following description. I

In the .drawings there is shown a preferred embodiment of theinvention'.In this showing:

.Fig. .1 is a top planview ofa connector assembly constructed inaccordance with the principles-of this invention.

Fig. 2.is a side elevational view ofthe assembly shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a front elevational view of the connector assembly; and v 2Fig. 4.- is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating the manner inwhich the connector assembly operates to secure table legs to a tabletop.

As shown in the drawings, the connector assembly comprises a pair ofmetal plates or stamp- .ings 2 and 3 arranged in face-'to-face relation,

and having similar transverse edges 4 secured together as by rivets 5.Although rivets 5 are illustrated. as a connecting means for the edges 4of the assembly,'it will be understood that any other suitable fasteningconnections may be employed for the purpose of the rivets 5.

Each edge A of the connector assembly is provided with a reinforcing andmounting bracket 6. Each mounting bracket 6 comprises a metal plate inthe form of a triangle having flanges 1 and '8 projecting inwardly fromthe edges forming the legs of the triangle. The flangesS are positionedand clamped rigidly between the edges of the plates 2 and 3 forming theedges 4 of the assembly. The flange l are provided with openings 9through which screws may be passed for securing the assembly to theunderside of a table top as shown in Fig. 4. ,When thus secured inposition,

3 the brackets 6 operate to prevent angular mov ment of the plates 2 and3 with respect to a table top in addition to connecting the plates 2 and3 to the table top.

As best shown in Figs. 1 and 4, each of the plates 2 and 3 is providedwith a semi-circular grooved portiondl adjacent each of the edges 4.The' grooved portions H cooperate to provide spaces l2 having a circularcross-section for the reception of the end of a table leg in a manner tobe described.

The central portions of the plates 2 and 3 between the grooved portionsindicated IGSPBC: tively by the numerals l 3 and H. are spaced from eachother as best shown in Fig. 1. The parts l3 and I4 are provided withaligned openings for the reception of a threaded fastening'element |5having a screw head Hi and a nut l1 threaded on.

its shank. Upon turning movement of the nut I relative to the fasteningelement IS, the parts 13' and I4 wi-llbe flexed toward each other todecrease the space 2 and thereby clamp the end of the leg between thegrooved portions to secure the leg to the assembly. In order to maizethe central portions l3 and. H more rigid, and

to increase the resiliency resisting movement of the central portions l3and I4 toward each other, the central portions l3 and M are upsetgenerally n the form i a 9$ ee a icate by the 1mmeral It.

The operation 01' the connector assembly in the manufacture of a tableend in forming a con? nection between the tablev top and supporting legsof a table will be best understood by referring to Fig. 4. In thisshowing, the numeral designates a table top to which. a pair ofsupporting legs 2| are to be secured. In the manufacture of the table,the connector assembly is secured to the underside of the table by woodscrews 22 which are inserted through openings 9 to clamp the flanges Itight against the undersurface of the table top 20. With the connectorassembly thus secured in position, the legs 2| are inserted endwise intothe cylindrical spaces I 2 between the plates 2 and 3. The fasteningelement I5 is then rotated by a screw driver to flex the plates 2 and 3toward each other and to apply a clamping force to the ends of the tablelegs 2|. This clamping force operates to secure the legs 2| to theconnector assembly. Since the legs 2| are secured to the assembly byclamping action, it will be seen that the axial position of the legs 2|in the assembly may bereadily adjusted to thereby vary. the efiegtive;length of the. less 2!.

' Attention is particularly directed to the fact that the connectorassembly is constructed of sheet metal stampings and may be produced byinexpensive manufacturing operations. After the connector assemblieshave been manufactured, they may be secured to the underside 015 a tablevery rapidly. The, time required to secure the connector assembly to theunderside of a table isv no more than that which is required to drivefour screws, such as the screws 22 into position. with the connectorassembly mounted in position on the underside of a table, it is merelynecessary to move the ends oi the. legs 2| into an operative position inthe spaces |-2 between the plates 2; and 3. and to operate the clampingdevice I5 to secure the legs to the connector assembly. With the. legs2| secured to the connector assembly, they'are elfectively secured tothe. tabletop for. whichthey are to form a support. It will be apparentthat these operations may be performed in a minimum of time and at aminimum of expense in themanufacture of a table. It will also beapparent that the parts employed in making the connection may bemanufactured from inexpensive materials by inexpensive manufacturingoperations. It will thus be seen-that the connector assembly of thisinvention provides a considerable reduction in the cost of manufacturingtables as compared to tables provided with conventional connectingdevices and assembled by conventional manufacturing methods;

While I have illustrated and described one specific embodiment of myinvention, it will be understood that this is merely by way ofillustration, and that various changes and modifications may be madetherein within the contemplation of my invention and under the scope ofthe following claims.

I claim:

A le 1% $3 3 c m r s n P3 9f spaced sheet metal brackets of triangularshape respectively having a horizontal edge with a flange projectingtherefrom for connection to the underside of a table and a vertical edgeextending downwardly from said horizontal edge, each of said bracketshaving an inwardly turned flan e extendi l n it s d rt c ed e nd an se su ure on e i sa ertica edges for m nt n n e dbrac s n spaced parallelrelationcomprising a pair of sheet metal plates in faceeto-facerelationship with similar side edges secured. together and connectedwith said bracket vertical edges, the connected side edges of saidplates having clamping engagement with one of said inwardly turnedflanges positioned therebetween, the portions of said plates betweensaid side edges being spaced slightly from each other so that saidplates may resiliently fiex toward each. other in response to a clampingforce applied thereto at a point between saidside edges, each. of saidplates having a semircircular groove adjacent each. of said edges, eachgroove on one of said plates cooperating with a similar groove onanother of said plates to provide a space. for the reception of a tablelegend, and a clamp between said grooves for applying a clamping forceto said plates to clamp the ends of table legs in said spaces andthereby secure such table legs to said connector.

2. A table leg connector comprising a vertically' extending sheet. metalclamp having vertical side edges and a pair of semi-circular groovesrespectively positioned adjacent and parallel to one of said side edges,said clamp having a substantially flat and resilient center portionbetween said grooves, a pair of parallel and vertical sheet metalbracing plates respectively having a rigid connection with one of saidclamp side edges and extending perpendicular to the plane of said clamp,each of said bracing plates having a horizontal flange along its topedge for connection to the underside of a table, and a sec ond sheetmetal clamp confronting with and having a contour similar to said firstclamp with its semi-circular grooves cooperating with the grooves ofsaid first clamp to provide spaced vertical openings for the receptionof the upper ends of a pair of table legs and with its center portionspaced slightly from the center portion of said first clamp, the sideedges of said second clamp being secured to the similar side edges ofsaid first clamp, and a fastener positioned midway of said openings forforcing said center por- 6 tions toward each other to apply a clampingforce Number Name Date to the ends of table legs in said openings.1,608,18 Rumble Nov. 23, 1926 1,870,173 Calton Aug. 2, 1932 ABRAHAMREDLICH' 1,875,635 Merrill Sept. 6, 1932 5 2,253,172 Fetterman Aug. 19,1941 REFERENCES CITED 2,485,784. Shoenberg Oct. 25, 1949 The followingreferences are of record in the 2,501,746 Shoenberg Mar. 28, 1950 file0f thls Pater! FOREIGN PATENTS UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Country DateNumber Name Date 134,262 Switzerland Oct. 1, 1929 843,375 Thompson Feb.5, 1907 412,295 Great Britain June 28, 1934

